Hydrotherapy

Well, I have dragged out from the abyss that is my Spare Sock Drawer (a drawer full of holey, odd and threadbare socks and baggy tights and unsuitable pants For Emergencies Only-we all have one don't we....don't we????) my swimsuit, untouched for years, and laid it out ready for tomorrow. I have bought a miniature swimsuit from the Wriggly one (actually I've bought two as she is sort of between sizes and I didn't fancy the parade of getting a baby to try on a swimming costume in the changing rooms, that hates getting undressed/dressed at the best of times. Also, I don't think the Newcastle is yet ready for my tuneless rendition of Old MacDonald/Wheels on the Bus mash up, which at present is the only way to soothe said screaming not-so-infant) and even found a spare towel. Because tomorrow starts a round of hydrotherapy.

I am a bit nervous.

I suspect the last time anyone saw my legs outside encasing of jeans or woolly tights was probably slightly under two years ago. The last time someone saw me in a swimming costume, god help them, was errrrr quite a bit before that. I did go swimming* as a student and Wriggles has baths on a regular basis, but we are yet to brave the waters together. I am slightly nervous about dropping a slippy baby. I imagine it will make a very poor impression. Last night we had a "trial run" in a very deep bath. Wriggles was quite skittish at first but didn't hate it which bodes well. I am more nervous about catching the correct bus in the morning as we (well, I. It is definitely my fault) are pathologically late for everything, and also getting on said bus as the bus drivers in my area have a vendetta against pushchairs. 

Apart from that, it should be grand. Hydrotherapy is essentially a very warm swimming pool, around body temperature I think, to do exercises in and help decrease muscle tone and increase muscle strength. (Hydrotherapy is also a bit like colonic irrigation-but that is a different kind and one I definitely hope we will not be subjected too) It is said to help with a vast range of ailments and conditions and help build up physical strength. Hopefully also relax slightly stressed mummies! Wriggles has had regular physio since about 32 weeks gestation, still in an incubator in SCBU for Froggyitus**, a common prem condition, and continues to have it as her development is a bit erratic in areas. 

We are very lucky in that our community physio team is very proactive and the two physios we have seen have been utter sanity savers. Not only patient, but also very informative and willing to spend that extra bit of time explaining things and answering all of my pestering questions and deciphering doctor terminology. I like the more holistic approach they take also, rather than "Oh I'll just transfer you to so-and-so....." and they way they are willing to chase up other people!

It was a surprise, mostly pleasant, to be able to access hydrotherapy. They do a Pre-School Program which at just shy of 18 months Wriggles is now eligible for. She shows signs of high muscle tone as well as Chronic Froggyitus and still is not able to bear weight even with support for more than a millisecond. Neither I nor our physio have doubt she will get there, but given there was a place, it was deemed A Good Idea to go for early intervention and try and kickstart some mobility and increase her physical strength, which is lacking in the lower limbs.  It just feels a bit weird to have to go along to these things. We had such a relatively easy ride in SCBU that the aftermath was a rude shock and I still have a surprise every time I am reminded my baby has some delays and slowness in development that either could or could not be significant in some shape or form. Like many other things, you never expect it to happen to you. It hasn't stopped me worrying about the future, but I am grateful for the present, which I think she is doing very well at!

I may craft some medals out of left-over chocolate money to get into the Olympics vibe...

*this is a bit of an exaggeration. The swimming pool near my friend's house did a "Swim Disco" on Friday nights were they stuck on lights, music and a mirror ball and opened up the Sauna. I would do one or two lengths and then me and my friend would stick in the sauna gossiping until our skin felt fried and we escaped to the pub.
**NOT a genuine medical term, but when said prem splays limbs out like a mad frog. Premature babies lack the ability to work against gravity, meaning that they cannot move between the stretching out and curling up positions. This is why positioning is so important, especially in the early days. It recreates positions in the womb, rather than letting the baby lie in a heap which is not very comfortable and will add to muscle tone problems.